IABC Houston Calendar Events RSS Feed

ESIG: Make Client Relationships Last on Feb 9, 2012 11:30 AM

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:30:00 GMT

ESIG: Make Client Relationships Last
Start Date: Feb 9, 2012 11:30 AM
End Time: Feb 9, 2012 1:00 PM
Location: La Griglia, Houston, TX 77019
Speaker: Carole Minor and Ben Wheatley

Event Details:

Lasting client relationships start with great client service

Most of us would rather push for continuing work with an existing client than chase after a new opportunity. It just makes sense: you already know the client’s business issues and, presumably, have learned how to work together effectively.

Long-term client-consultant relationships start with great client service. From there, good consultants strive to ensure they relate well to their clients—in every aspect of the business relationship. Yet, each client relationship could go south in a heartbeat.

The smart consultant enters each one prepared—armed with skills to keep clients and revenues growing.

Come to the ESIG February 9 to share strategies that help avoid some of the pitfalls of client-consultant relationships. Fellow ESIGers will solve specific scenarios, devised by Carole Minor and Ben Wheatley, ABC, APR, sure to challenge even the most experienced communicators. Real clients will be on hand to share their perspectives and practical expertise on these table topics with each group.

This client relationship refresher promises to be stimulating and informative. Learn how to plan for potential uncertainties, such as project delays and executive turnover. Find out how to effectively train a client and avoid a train wreck. Discover the relief and rewards that come from “firing” a client--or a collaborator--when the relationship is broken beyond repair.

La Griglia

2002 West Gray

Houston, TX USA 77019

Corporate Communicators Series: Change Leadership on Feb 16, 2012 7:00 AM

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Corporate Communicators Series: Change Leadership
Start Date: Feb 16, 2012 7:00 AM
End Time: Feb 16, 2012 8:00 AM
Location: Pecan Creek Grille (Energy Corridor), Houston, Texas 77077
Speaker: John Hackl and Ann Steel

Event Details:

Exclusively for communications professionals within corporations. Senior communicators sharing REAL corporate strategies to make a REAL impact on your work.

IABC Houston and Pierpont Communications are pleased to bring you a new quarterly series that adds REAL value to your corporate communications practice. What can you expect with the series? Four breakfast events, scattered around town, with C-level panelists presenting valuable lessons learned in a roundtable format.

Are you ready to go off the record and discuss Change Management best practices? The February breakfast meeting will provide a fresh perspective on what it takes to lead and implement change communications in a complex corporate environment. Our panel of speakers will provide personal case studies of how leading corporations are communicating change through dynamic strategies and tactics.

This breakfast session will also provide plenty of time for questions and answers. This series is exclusively for corporate communicators and seating is limited. Make your reservation now, NO LATER THAN 7am, Tuesday February 15th.

NOTE that, due to space constraints, this event is by reservation only, no walk-ins can be accomodated.

Sponsored By:

Pecan Creek Grille (Energy Corridor)

1510 Eldridge Parkway #100

Houston, Texas USA 77077

How to Deal When There's a Deal - LUNCH ONLY on Feb 23, 2012 11:15 AM

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:15:00 GMT

How to Deal When There's a Deal - LUNCH ONLY
Start Date: Feb 23, 2012 11:15 AM
End Time: Feb 23, 2012 1:00 PM
Location: Brennan's of Houston, Houston, TX 77006
Speaker: Connie Barnaba

Event Details:

There is no such thing as “too much” communication, particularly during a company merger or acquisition. Communication is a necessary part of a successful integration strategy, as noted in the Houston Business Journal’s article When Words and Action Collide.

However, the content of the communication is truly key. Words that are left unsaid or are open to interpretation can be more powerful, and are often detrimental. A large contributor to the success of a merger or acquisition is the effective integration of the acquired company’s operations, which may not happen if company personnel become disengaged.

Connie Barnaba will use her human resources experience and change management research to show us:

Why many U.S. companies have poor performance within the first 12 months of a merger deal.
The key business elements involved during integrating two companies.
How to communicate effectively during these high-change, highly charged events.

Brennan's of Houston

3300 Smith Street

Houston, TX 77006

How To Deal When There's a Deal - LUNCH AND WORKSHOP on Feb 23, 2012 11:15 AM

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:15:00 GMT

How To Deal When There's a Deal - LUNCH AND WORKSHOP
Start Date: Feb 23, 2012 11:15 AM
End Time: Feb 23, 2012 3:00 PM
Location: Brennan's of Houston, Houston, TX 77006
Speaker: Connie Barnaba

Event Details:

Just how important IS communication during mergers and acquisitions?

As noted in the Houston Business Journal’s When Words and Action Collide, communication is a vital component of a company’s successful integration strategy.

During the February luncheon, Connie Barnaba will share valuable insight on how communications can play a key role in the success of a company merger or acquisition. For just a little more, you get twice the content.

In addition to all the great luncheon content, which provides the overview, Ms. Barnaba’s afternoon workshop will apply that information to real-world scenarios:

How to integrate existing and new key players, and processes, and make them work for you.
The critical importance of internal communications in integrating company operations.
How transparent communications bring customers and external stakeholders together.

Brennan's of Houston

3300 Smith Street

Houston, TX 77006

ESIG: How to Get a Publisher's Attention on Mar 8, 2012 11:30 AM

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:30:00 GMT

ESIG: How to Get a Publisher’s Attention
Start Date: Mar 8, 2012 11:30 AM
End Time: Mar 8, 2012 1:00 PM
Location: La Griglia, Houston, TX 77019
Speaker: Arielle Eckstut

Event Details:

Get a peek behind the curtain of the New York book publishing industry at the March ESIG meeting.

Arielle Eckstut, agent-at-large with The Levine Greenberg Literary Agency and co-author of The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published, will appear from New York via the magic of Skype.

The book, written with her husband, David Henry Sterry, grew out of a book publishing workshop the couple has presented to rave reviews across the country.

If you’re a business communications professional in Houston, and if you are writing or thinking about writing a book -- or if you have a client or boss or colleague who is dreaming of their book on The New York Times bestseller list -- join other Houston entrepreneurs March 8 to find out the insider story on how to get there. Learn how to define your own path to book publishing success.

The Entrepreneurs Strategic Interest Group (ESIG) is chartered by IABC/Houston to address the challenges and rewards of small business ownership in the field of business communications. Houston entrepreneurs in the area of business communications are invited to visit and learn about the benefits of IABC membership.

La Griglia

2002 West Gray

Houston, TX USA 77019

Juggling the Firestorm of Crisis Communications on Mar 22, 2012 11:15 AM

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:15:00 GMT

Juggling the Firestorm of Crisis Communications
Start Date: Mar 22, 2012 11:15 AM
End Time: Mar 22, 2012 1:00 PM
Location: Brennan's of Houston, Houston, TX 77006
Speaker: Patrick Knapp

Event Details:

Being the calm in the midst of the storm for employees

The main refinery pipeline hub just blew! A flurry of questions ensues: Are all personnel accounted for? How did it happen? What was the cause?

There are multiple aspects of crisis communications. Typically attention is focused on the external audience, but during a time of pressure and anxiety, what information is being shared with employees? How we do we manage employee perception, understanding, and especially safety? How do we, as a company, speak with ONE voice?

Patrick Knapp of Baker Hughes has seen his share of emergency situations, and will focus his presentation on the following key areas of internal communications during a crisis:

Determining the best way to reach employees to ensure they are safe.
Establishing an internal website or network for employees to obtain helpful information.
Leveraging auto-dialers, enhanced call routing systems and smartphones to locate, account for and communicate with employees.
Ensuring that employees have accurate facts and are prepared to share information with the public and/or media.

Our thanks to Torma Communications for sponsoring this month's program.

Brennan's of Houston

3300 Smith Street

Houston, TX 77006

Going Nuts about Social Media, the Southwest Airlines Way! on Apr 26, 2012 11:15 AM

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:15:00 GMT

Going Nuts about Social Media, the Southwest Airlines Way!
Start Date: Apr 26, 2012 11:15 AM
End Time: Apr 26, 2012 1:00 PM
Location: Brennan's of Houston, Houston, TX 77057
Speaker: Christi McNeill

Event Details:

A blogger once wrote that Southwest Airlines was riding the blogosphere “like a wild horse.” Ask anyone on the Southwest Communication Team, and they’ll agree that it has been a wild ride. For more than five years, Southwest Airlines has navigated the uncharted territory of social media–first, with its award-winning corporate blog, “Nuts About Southwest;” later with tools such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook; and most recently , with the addition of Customer Relations Social Media Specialists.

Along the way, Southwest has experienced both highs and lows, but they keep saddling up for more. From virtual riots to an industry crisis, Southwest has learned how to leverage today’s social media tools to successfully support company needs and meet customer expectations. Through real-life case studies and examples from the last four years, Southwest will show you how they have effectively made, managed and maintained successful online communities and share every lesson they’ve learned along the way.

Attend this session and you will learn how to:

Establish a team to quickly respond to the ongoing online conversation
Sweet-talk execs into supporting an Emerging Media program
Leverage social media in a crisis
Woo and leverage online influencers
Determine the best tools for Social Media and Customer Relations

To see how Southwest is using Social Media click here.

Brennan's of Houston

3300 Smith Street

Houston, TX 77057

2012 Bronze Quill Gala and Preview Showcase on May 8, 2012 6:00 PM

Tue, 08 May 2012 23:00:00 GMT

2012 Bronze Quill Gala and Preview Showcase
Start Date: May 8, 2012 6:00 PM
End Time: May 8, 2012 9:30 PM
Location: Junior League of Houston
Event Details:

Reserve Your Seats for the Bronze Quill Gala!

We have some great plans in the works for this yearʼs presentation dinner – to make it more truly a GALA. Weʼre sure youʼll love our choice for Executive Communicator of the Year, the redesigned Entry Showcase and some truly unique musical entertainment.

The bottom line: weʼre committed to making our awards presentation event as polished and professional as the people and companies we will honor. Weʼre “kickinʼ it up a notch,” and we hope youʼll join us for this special evening. Until midnight on March 1, receive a discount on all tickets (to include Table Tickets) to the Gala and Preview Showcase by purchasing them before the competition entry deadline!

The Gala will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at The Junior League of Houston. Lowest prices for those who register by March 1!

Junior League of Houston